Agitator for washing machines



Dec. 18, @923. 11,478,182

' P. F. SCHNEIDER AGITATOR FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed April 25, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 $3 I 49 git, INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Deco 18, 1923. 1,478,182

P. F. SCHNEIDER AGITATOR FO R WASHING MACHINES Filed April 23, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y.

' ful Improvement Patented Dec. 1%, 11923.

UNHTED STATE inverse earner crease.

PETER I. SCHNEIDER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

aerra'ror. FOR WASHING aonmns.

Application filed April 23, 1921. Serial No. 463,985.

T all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that 1, PETER F. SCHNEIDER, a citizen of the United States, residin at Detroit, county of Vayne, State of hfichof this specification.

This invention relates to agitators for washing machines and the object of the invention is to provide an agitator of the character described adapted to be reciprocated vertically within a tub to cause agitation of the waterand clothing therein. A further object of the invention is to provide an agitator of the character described which is so formed as to contain a quantity of air suflicient to at least partially float the same in water whereby subsequent to movement into the Waterthe agitator tends to rise and float due .to the'air contained A further object of the intherewithin.

rovidean agitator of the vention is to qcharacter descri d adapted upon downward movement to deflect the water and clothing from the edges of the tub toward the center thereof and upon upward movement to reverse the said action of the water and clothing. A novel feature of the invention is involved in the construction of the upper flange which upon downward movement is adapted to deflect the water and clothing downward and toward the center of the tub and, also in the construction of the lower flange which upon downward movementis adapted to deflect the water and clothing upward and toward the center of thetub, this movement of the water and clothing by the two flanges causing excessive agitation. These objects and theseveral novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the pre ferred form of construction by which these objects are attained is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a section through a tub and agitator embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan new of the agitator showing the cross arm of the agitator secured to the upper end of the vertically reciprocable shaft.

Fig. 3 is, an enlarged view of the means through as shown in dotted lines in Figs.

1 and 3. The agitator 5 is provided with a yoke 6 channel shaped in cross section, the said yoke being apertured to receive the upper end of the shaft 2. The yoke is provided with a bearing'portion 7 about the shaft and with a wall 8 connecting the opposite sides thereof as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 3. provided with bifurcated ends consisting of two arms 9 and 10 and between these two arms at one end of the yoke is a knob 11, as shown more particularly in Fi 3, the knob being connected to a pin 12 w ich The yoke is extends through the wall 8, bearing portion 7, and through the aperture 4: in the upper end of the shaft 2. A coiled spring 13 is provided about the rod 12 and forces against the wall 8 at one end and against the washer 14 at the opposite end; which 'is secured to the shaft by a pin, thus. holdshown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 3,-is shaped to conform to the shape of the under side of the flange 17 and extends slightly beyond the feet 1'5, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. A series of bolts or rivets 18 are then passed through the feet 15. through the flange 17 and through the. metal-strips 16 thus securing the said three parts together and preventing the rivets from tearing through the flange 17 during reciprocation of the agitator.- The agitator 5, as shown in Fig. 1, is preferably formed of sheet metal and is cylindrical inshape having an inturned flange 17 at the upper edge which is curved downwardly and provided with a rolled edge 19 so as not to catch on the clothes during washing .thereof. At the lower end of the cylindriiii-ll cal agitator I provide a substantially V shaped annular portion 20 which is provided with an annular flange 21 adapted to be welded, riveted or otherwise securedto the inner face of the agitator 5, thereby forming an airtight annular chamber 22 which tends to float the agitator in the water in the tub.

In operation the tub is filled with water and clothing to about the point of the V shaped member, shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the shaft and agitator are vertically reciprocated by the driving mechanism beneath the 'tub.. As. the agitator is moved downwardly the curved facefl24 of the V shaped member deflects the water and clothing upwardly and toward the center thereby preventing the clothing from passing into the space 25 between the agitator and the wall of the tub. As the-agitator is further moved downwardly the flange 17 is forced into the waterwhich deflects the water and clothing downwardly and toward the center, the movements of the water. and clothing by the flange 17 and member 20 converging toward the center and causing an extreme.

agitation thereof .thereby washing the clothes quickly andthoroughly. The water in the tub is preferably of sufficient depth to allow the complete agitator to be submerged in its lowest position and the air contained in the compartment 23 .willtend to cause the agitator to move upwardly through the water from its lowest position to a floating position thereby relieving the driving mechanism to some extent in raising the agitator. Upon upward movement of the agitator the water and clothes are again deflected toward the center by the shape of the upper face of the flange 17 and the face 26 of the V shaped member,the said movement giving the water a downward V whirling action. When the clothes are com- 7 pletely washed the operator, by pulling the '45 knob 11 to the left, may withdraw the rod 12 from the aperture 4 in the shaft end against the tension of the spring 13 at which time the agitator may be easily lifted from the tub toallow the clothes to be handled and passed through a wringer (not here shown). A pair of lugs 37 are provided extending inwardly fromopposite sides of the channel shaped yoke as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, so that upon "withdrawal of the rod 12 the washer l lstrikes the said lugs and limits outward movement thereof.

. It is to be particularly' noted tlrat when the surface to come in contact manufacturing cost and provides an agitator for washing machines which causes extreme agitation of the water thereby washing the clot-hes very thoroughly and in the shortest possible time and which accomplishes the objects desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat-v ent of the United states is- 1. The combination in a,washing machine of a tub having a vertically reciprocable shaft therein, an agitator secured to the said shaft consisting of a cylindrical member having an inturned upper flange curved downwardly and toward the center thereof, and a substantially V shaped annular member secured to the lower edge of the agitator.

2. The combination in a washing machine of a tub having a central shaft .vertically reciprocable therewithin, an agitator secured to the said shaft consisting of a cylindrical part having an inturned downwardly curved flange at its upper edge and an annular member substantially V shaped provided with an inwardly extending flange at the upper edge and a' yoke extending across and sec'uredat each end to the said flange and being also provided with a central aperture therein to receive the shaft, the. shaft being provided with an aperture through the upper end thereof, a spring pressed rod carried by the said yoke and adapted to extend through the aperture in T' the shaft, and an annular member substantially V shaped". in cross section secured to the cylindrical wall of the agitator.

4. The combination in a washing machine of a tub having a vertically reciprocable shaft therewithin, a cylindrical agitator secured to the said shaft having an. inturned upper flange curved downward and-toward the center thereof, a substantially V shaped annular member secured, to the agitator adjacent the lower edge, the lower face of the-V shaped member being arcuate in cross section.

5. The combination in a washing machine having a vertically reciprocable shaft therewithin, a cylindrical agitator secured to the said shaft and a Substantially V shaped annular member secured to the agitator adjacent the lower edge, the lower face of the V shaped member being arcuate in cross section.

6. In a washing machine, a tub, a cylindrical agitator reciprocably mounted therewithin having an inturned upper flange and a"\/ shaped annular flange adjacent the lower edge, and means for reciprocating the agitator.

7. The combination in a washing machine, of a ,tub having a shaft vertically reciprocable therewithin, a cylindrical agitator, a

yoke extending across the agitator and provided with bifurcated ends secured to the agitator, the yoke vbeing provided with a central aperture to receive the shaft, the

shaft being provided with an aperture through the upper end thereof, a rod extending longitudinally of the yoke and carried thereby, the end of the rod extending through the aperture in the shaft, a spring normally holding the rod in position in the aperture in the shaft and a knob positioned between the bifurcation at one end of the yoke for withdrawing the rod from the shaft against the tension of the spring.

8. In a washing machine, a tub, a cylindrical agitator reciprocably mounted therewithin, an inwardly extending substantially V shaped annular member secured to the agitator adjacent the lower edge providing a sealed air chamber, and means for reciprocating the agitator.

In testlmony whereof, I sign this specification.

PETER F. SCHNEIDER. 

